Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hi All,

I have read through the postings and would like some help selecting a snowblower from Home Depot. The Home Depot in my area sells Ariens. I have some gift cards with them which is why I have narrowed it to Home Depot. I have a 100ft, standard 2 car driveway, mostly mixed gravel. I also have a boat parking space so there is some extra mixed gravel driveway also. I live just North of the Quad Cities in Iowa. The last two years we have gotten a lot of snow, and some years, there is nothing. The last two have been medium to medium heavy wet snow with a max of 8 inches of snow.

I like to buy quality and overbuy instead of underbuy, so I have tentatively selected the Ariens Deluxe Platinum 24 (1349$) or Deluxe Platinum 30 (1599$). For the amount I have, do I really need the 30 or will the 24 be plenty? Any other suggestions or comments, would be appreciated.

thanks

That's only because only one wheel is powering the machine.  Good luck standing on fresh fallen snow and lifting the wheels off the ground to turn it, as you describe.  Someone on this board once described it as wrestling with a bear.

Could have given you a great deal on mine.

I'll be thinking of the additional money as $30 year over the times I'll have it.  It is a lot to spend, though, on something typically used just a few hours every year.

Good luck with it.  It's great on those straight runs.

Grump,

I have done it before with my dads blower. His wheels are locked all the time and I just pick her up and swing it around. His is heavier than mine also and it did not bother my back, only if I have to bend over do I get back problems. Plus I am fairly young (35) and an avid weightlifter so it does not bother me as basically the same snowblower at twice the price would have bothered me.